Volume I | March 2018
What's New at St. Elizabeth's - March 2018

Top Ten Donation List

Here's a list of the top ten items that are most useful to our neighbors who come to St. Elizabeth's each week. We've also included a list of top ten items that volunteers have found to be not so helpful. Please share this list with your parishioners in your church newsletter or weekly bulletin.

Here's a handy bulletin insert and flyer to print out and include in your weekly service leaflet, post on your notice board, or include in your church newsletter. It explains St. E's ministry and offers guidelines for donations as well as the Top Ten lists.

Thanks for spreading the word!

Our Top Ten DESIRABLES:

  1. Winter coats for adults and children*
  2. Winter boots for adults and children*
  3. Soup pots 4 qt or larger
  4. Footwear
  5. Men’s clothing in season
  6. Women’s and children’s clothing in season
  7. All eating utensils: dishes, cups, mugs, glasses, forks, knives and spoons
  8. Bedding: blankets, sheets, and pillowcases and towels
  9. Backpacks (both child size and adults)
  10. Child strollers

*We collect these year-round in order to meet the high demand during the winter months.

Our Top Ten UNDESIRABLES are:
  1. Ripped, stained, or dirty clothing
  2. Worn out, smelly shoes
  3. Puzzles with pieces missing
  4. Broken toys
  5. Furniture (due to limited storage)
  6. Small appliances
  7. Electronics
  8. Text books
  9. VHS tapes


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From the Board Chair
by Martha Parshley, St. Luke's Cathedral

Dear Volunteers and Friends of St. Elizabeth's,

The Rev. Dan Riggall has decided to leave the position of transitional Executive Director for personal reasons.

We thank Dan for his leadership to create and staff the first Board of Directors for the center and all this entails while managing our weekly openings. He directed the creation of this newsletter. Under his guidance, neighbors have been encouraged to volunteer at the center as interpreters and help with set-up work and so build their resumes.

We wish Dan well in his retirement.
Going forward, the St. Elizabeth’s Board will oversee and support our weekly openings. The Board has begun the process of updating the job description for the Executive Director. Stay-tuned for more information in the coming weeks. 

Martha Parshley
Transitional Chairperson
St. Elizabeth’s Jubilee Center
Neighbor Spotlight - Toys and Joy

From Holly MacEwan

It was February school break in Maine, lots of children of all ages were part of the community of St. Elizabeth’s on a recent Tuesday morning. Martha Parshley advised that we still had a wonderful supply of new toys to distribute, thanks to the efforts of Nancy Brain.

Martha and I had the enjoyable “job” of sorting through the boxes of lovely new toys and choosing which ones would be offered to these wonderful children. I think we had a sense of why Santa is so jovial! With our arms full of new games, books, puzzles and toy fire trucks we entered the pantry room. I handed a little boy one of the trucks; his shriek of pure delight filled the room! That infectious joy touched every member of the assembled St. Elizabeth’s community.

Many other children happily received books and toys that morning. Parents were so pleased and grateful to have new toys to brighten their children’s vacation week.


Do you have a story to share with other volunteers and members our sponsoring churches? Please send it to Martha at martha.parshley@gmail.com
March and April volunteer schedule

From Gretchen Lane

Happy March! Tomorrow's snowstorm notwithstanding, Spring is getting so close. The sun actually has warmth to it now.

Our neighbors continue to come on Tuesday mornings for what we have to offer and we continue to need help sharing what we have. Here are the dates for March:

March 13, St. Bart's, Yarmouth
March 20, St. Ann's, Windham/Trinity, Portland
March 27, St. Mary's, Falmouth/St. Nick's, Scarborough

Looking ahead, here are the dates for April:

April 3, St. Alban's, Cape Elizabeth
April 10, St. David's, Kennebunk
April 17, St. Luke's, Portland
April 24, St. Bart's, Yarmouth

Thank you for all you do. I look forward to seeing many of you soon.

St. Elizabeth's Jubilee Center | Episcopal Diocese of Maine | martha.parshley@gmail.com